Quick reflexes aren’t generally associated with field crops, but new research indicates barley combats disease invaders within as little as five minutes of an attack. The discovery gives researchers new information that they hope will lead to development of long-term durable plant resistance to disease. Andy Kleinhofs, a plant geneticist and professor of crop and […] Read more
News
Barley takes quick action when disease begins attack
Meatless Monday
Re: Meatless Monday initiative won’t affect global warming, WP Oct. 13. Your editorial dismissing the Meatless Monday initiative will be a great help to those in the livestock industry who like keeping their heads comfortably in the sand. However, you do a disservice to producers who may want to better understand future consumer attitudes informed […] Read more
Lake Winnipeg first
Re: Man. agriculture economy in hands of elected officials (WP Editorial, Oct. 20) It’s a terrible shame and insulting that the Manitoba Pork Council and the hog producing industry can only whine when decisive action is finally being taken by the province to protect our most important and vital resource — water, and particularly, Lake […] Read more
Scholarships aimed at 4-h members
CIBC and 4-H Canada have announced the CIBC 4-H postsecondary education scholarship. It consists of three annual scholarships valued at $2,500 per year for two years, starting in 2012. Eligible 4-H members can apply through the 4-H Canada website by Dec. 5.
Fake cow joins staff
RED DEER — A simulated cow will soon add to the learning experience for Olds College students. Lucy, a bovine simulator complete with a calf named Lou, was unveiled to staff and students during the Cattleman’s College educational series. Dean of agriculture Tanya McDonald said the lifelike, anatomically correct machine will give students in the […] Read more
Flax grower remembers day of the Triffid
Allen Kuhlmann remembers when the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission got the call that Triffid had been found in a Canadian shipment. “We didn’t believe it,” said the former chair of the commission. “As far as we felt, there was no Triffid.” Kuhlmann and the rest of the industry were convinced the European labs must have […] Read more
German grain giant buys Sask. pulse processor
The pattern of mergers and acquisitions continues in the pulse industry. Germany’s largest grain trader has bought a North Battleford, Sask., pulse icon. And Canada’s largest lentil processor has added another asset in North Dakota. Alfred C. Toepfer International has purchased Western Grain Trade Ltd. and Western Grain Cleaning &Processing Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. […] Read more
4-H Month celebrates B.C.’s future workforce
British Columbia celebrates 4-H Month this November by recognizing the contributions it makes to the province’s workforce. Although 4-H is known for teaching young people about agricultural activities, it also prepares them for futures as adult workers in any professional community, rural or urban. The program focuses on knowledge, leadership, citizenship and personal development. More […] Read more
Aussie looks north for farm workers
For university students, trying to strike a balance between the need to earn money and the desire to travel abroad can be difficult. A working vacation program could offer a way for students to do both. Andrew Coldbeck, owner of The Job Shop in Western Australia, is visiting the Canadian Prairies hoping to find students […] Read more
Flax honours war vets
Every year in November, millions of Canadians adorn themselves with a bright red poppy to honour the nation’s war veterans. Gordon Rowland, a former Saskatoon resident and University of Saskatchewan plant scientist, chose a different flower to recognize Canada’s war heroes. In a plant breeding career that spanned nearly 40 years, Rowland developed and named […] Read more
